Position group each NFC team must hit on in NFL Draft

Finally, the first round of the NFL Draft in Detroit is only days away.

While teams were honing draft boards for the Thursday-Saturday event, we asked Yardbarker NFL writers to give their take on what position group each team in the NFC must hit on in the draft.

For some teams, the answer seems obvious, but it's not for others. Here's a rundown:

NFC East 

DALLAS COWBOYS | Running back | Now that Tony Pollard is a Tennessee Titan, Dallas must be careful finding a replacement for its leading rusher in what’s widely considered a poor draft for running backs. New addition Royce Freeman and his 1,792 career rushing yards aren’t the answer, but neither are the Cowboys' three other running backs, who have a combined 586 career rushing yards among them.

NEW YORK GIANTS | Wide receiver | New York finished 2023 with the league’s second-worst passing offense and hasn't had a 1,000-yard receiver since Odell Beckham Jr. in 2018. A top prospect such as Marvin Harrison Jr., Rome Odunze and Malik Nabers should be available at No. 6. Any one of them could make wide receiver Darius Slayton regret skipping OTAs.

PHILADELPHIA EAGLES | Starting cornerbacks | James Bradberry and Darius Slay will be a combined 64-years-old to start next season, which doesn’t bode well for a defense that allowed the 28th-most passing yards last season. Options such as Alabama’s Kool-Aid McKinstry and Clemson’s Nate Wiggins should be available with the No. 22 pick, but given the need at the position, a trade up for Alabama’s Terrion Arnold or Toledo's Quinyon Mitchell could be necessary.

WASHINGTON COMMANDERS | Quarterback | Missing on a quarterback with the No. 2 pick can be devastating, as this team learned with Robert Griffin III in 2012. Whether it is LSU's Jayden Daniels or North Carolina's Drake Maye, this year’s pick better be more Kirk Cousins (Washington’s fourth-round selection in 2012) and less RGIII or a third straight last-place finish could be unavoidable. — Bruce Ewing

NFC West 

ARIZONA CARDINALS | Wide receiver | With former WR1 Marquise “Hollywood” Brown gone in free agency to the Kansas City Chiefs and no real internal options to step in, wide receiver is easily the biggest need. Not addressing the position in the draft would be organizational malpractice. Fortunately for the Cardinals, they are positioned at the top of the draft in what might be one of the deepest wide receiver classes in recent memory.

LOS ANGELES RAMS | Defensive line | The retirement of Aaron Donald puts a massive hole in the middle of the Rams’ defensive line, and it seems like a given that they are going to address it. Even before Donald’s retirement, the Rams had a need for more of a pass rush and a more stout line against the run, and that is only multiplied now with Donald no longer in the picture.

SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS | Offensive line | The 49ers do not have many weaknesses, but their offensive line is a position that needs a short- and long-term overhaul. Trent Williams — who will be 36 when the season begins — is not going to play forever at left tackle, and the right side of the line could use an upgrade, too.

SEATTLE SEAHAWKS | Defensive line | The entire defense needs an overhaul, but no position needs it more than Seattle's defensive line. The Seahawks had the second-worst run defense in the NFL last season, and if they are going to become more than the 9-8 team they have been the past two seasons, Seattle must fix the D-line with multiple picks. — Adam Gretz

NFC North 

CHICAGO BEARS | Quarterback | From Mitchell Trubisky to Justin Fields, the Bears haven't filled  the void at the most important position on the field in recent years. After passing on the chance to take a potential franchise quarterback No. 1 overall last April, they have another shot Thursday. Whether they select USC's Caleb Williams or someone else, they can't miss.

DETROIT LIONS | Edge-rusher | For the Lions to realize the full potential of star edge-rusher Aidan Hutchinson (21 sacks in two seasons), it's time for them to add a difference-maker at the opposite end of the D-line. Signing veteran free agent Marcus Davenport is a possible quick fix, but Detroit can ill afford to miss on a more long-term solution at the position.

GREEN BAY PACKERS | Defensive back | With the most selections in this year's draft (11), the Packers have plenty of chances to add impact players to an up-and-coming roster. However, beyond CB Jaire Alexander and free-agent addition safety Xavier McKinney, a lack of depth has Green Bay facing two glaring holes in the secondary that must be filled by starting-caliber players.

MINNESOTA VIKINGS | Quarterback | With the Kirk Cousins era in the rearview, the trio of Sam Darnold, Nick Mullens and Jaren Hall isn’t bound to bring much hope for Vikings fans in 2024. Armed with two first-round picks (No. 11 and No. 23), Minnesota is in a unique position to move up to grab a quarterback it loves, such as LSU's Jayden Daniels, UNC's Drake Maye or Michigan's J.J. McCarthy. Choosing wrong could be a huge setback for the franchise. — Mike Santa Barbara

NFC South

ATLANTA FALCONS | Edge-rusher | The Falcons’ most productive pass-rushers in 2023, Calais Campbell and Bud Dupree, remain free agents. Atlanta, which has the No. 8 pick in the first round, can’t leave Day 1 without either Alabama’s Dallas Turner or UCLA’s Laiatu Latu.

CAROLINA PANTHERS | Wide receiver | Let’s get second-year quarterback Bryce Young (59.8% completion percentage in 2023) help. The Panthers should have intriguing wide receiver options in a draft said to be filled with great ones at the position. Carolina doesn't have a first-round pick, so it should use its first second-round pick on a receiver. Perhaps its second one, too.

NEW ORLEANS SAINTS | Offensive tackle | Ryan Ramczyk’s knee injury could be career-ending, and Trevor Penning played himself out of a starting spot in 2023. New Orleans could use two starters but would likely happily settle for one.

TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS | Offensive line | The offensive line is largely responsible for Tampa’s league-worst rushing attack the past two seasons. For the offense to take the next step with QB Baker Mayfield, it will start with Tampa Bay adding a difference-maker in the trenches. — Eric Smithling